Fig. 5. CASC9 inhibits apoptosis and autophagy in OSCC cells through the regulation of the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

a TEM experiments revealed that the autophagosome density was significantly reduced after the addition of the AKT activator SC79 to CASC9-knockdown SCC15 and CAL27 cells (low magnification scale bars = 2 μm; high magnification scale bars = 1 μm). b Flow cytometry revealed that after the addition of the AKT activator SC79 to CASC9-knockdown SCC15 and CAL27 cells, the apoptotic index was significantly reduced. c Western blotting revealed that the expression of p-mTOR was significantly increased after the activation of the AKT signaling pathway by the addition of SC79 to CASC9-knockdown SCC15 and CAL27 cells; moreover, the LC3B II/LC3B I ratio was significantly decreased, P62 protein expression was partially elevated, BCL-2 protein expression was partially increased, and BAX protein expression was partially reduced. Blank means blank control group, which was treated with no SC79 or si-CASC9. All data represent three independent experiments. Data are presented as the mean ± SD (n ≥ 3). *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001; ****P < 0.0001